Dave vs Dapper

By now it is very obvious that Dave is very very different in many ways than Dapper. Obviously, I was aware that all rats are different just like people, but never experienced it for myself. I've decided to make a list of all the funny ways I have noticed they are unique and  different.

Dave vs. Dapper

1) Dave immediately took to the space pod in his cage, feeling safer in high places. However, Dapper wouldn't even explore the top part of his cage for weeks. 

2) Dave is progressing faster in his trust training per day than Dapper, but the next day its like we have taken two steps backward. Dapper made very very slow but steady progress.
3) Dave is very picky about what he eats. He doesn't like a lot of treats, and won't take it if he doesn't like it. While Dapper was a little picky when I first got him, he is a foodaholic by nature and will be happy to eat almost anything.
4) Daves favorite food is tortilla, seconded by yogurt and Litte Duck fruit treats, Dapper likes almost everything except strawberries,  
5) Dapper is crazy, not just in energy level, but personality. He's determined, stubborn and destructive- he just wants to have fun. Dave is quiet. I like to call him an "old man" because he's a little grumpy but calm about it. He gets random moments in which he is quite bold though.





I'm sure there are many more differences in the two unique individuals, but, for now, that is just a few silly things that come to mind:)

Dave Part 6

I've gotten behind on my postings. Dave and Dapper are now happily caged together. It took about 2 weeks of intros before  I put them in the cage together.



I was worried at first. Dapper was treating Dave not so nice. He was pulling on Daves ears and fur. I think it may have been a jealousy thing. He seemed to mostly bite/nip Dave when I was petting the latter rat- like he was annoyed to not be getting my full attention. I was so worried at one point I separated them both when I went out of the house. When I got home I put them back togeather- still apprehensive but willing to give it another try. I got busy doing things and when I went to check on them again they are snuggled up togeather in the same hammock! I couldn't believe it. Ever since they have been very lovey and cuddly toward each other, although they do still squabble quite a bit. They are just like two young brothers or something, always pushing each other around lol. Here is another video from their intro times:)

Cuddly boys in their space pod.

Dave part 5 (intros!)

It's finally come around to the first intro day. I've been dreading this. I've read too many horror stories of rats brutally attacking each other during intros.

First I made sure to clip the boy's nails, not an easy task- and one I had been putting off. I don't need two scratched up rat's though, so I gritted my teeth and did it with much help from my mom. Don't try and clip rat's nails by yourself, its a two person job.

Then it took a little while to retrieve all the supplies I needed....

List of supplies:

1) Spray bottle (to break up bad fights)
2) Two sets of Gloves (one for me and one for my mom, who was helping. (This is in case you have to break up a fight and they are bit-y))
3) towels for the tub bottom.
4) Dave's cage
5) Dapper's Carrier
6) An array of treats
7) two disgruntled rats



When we all got into the bathroom finally and I stuck the rats in the tub together, I was surprised that Dave immediately became edgy. He stood up on his hind legs, boxing at Dapper, and putting his paws all over Dap's head. The little shrimp was trying to be dominate! Dapper didn't seem all that interested. He didn't  know what to do with the little punk that was trying to stand up to him. He lumbered about, looking for a way out of the tub.

Dave kept boxing whenever Dapper got close, and Dapper got bored of this after a while. He started trying to get at Dave's underside and power groom. Dave wouldn't have any of that, he squeaked, and boxed Dapper's head some more, but it was obvious that Dave was becoming a little more hesitant about his dominate stance.

This went on for about five more minutes until their first intro time was up. It wasn't a bad or good first intro, just sort of in-between. It was a serial moment when I stuck Dapper and Dave in the bathtub, and they were together, no barriers, not safety walls... and yet no one died, the stock market didn't crash, the world didn't end. What a pleasant surprise.

Dave part 4

In case you're interested. Some videos of the boy's first intro's in the same room!

Here are a few videos I got of the rat's first days in the room together.

After a day next to each other it was cage swap time, moving Dapper into Dave's cage and Dave into Dapper's. It is easy to say that Dave enjoyed this process much more than Dap did.

Dave Part 3

Dave's quarantine period lasted a week. Yes, I know I am a horrible rat owner, for quarantining LESS than the minimum quarantine period (2 weeks).  But for me it just wasn't worth it anymore. Dave was a total scaredy cat so he wasn't improving socially.  I hoped that moving him in the room with Dapper would cause him to open up a little, seeing as there was another rat in the room. Also, he seemed perfectly healthy. I've seen a sick rat. He wasn't sick.

I'm not saying I suggest quarantining so short a time, it's just what worked for me at the time. Some people tell you to keep rats in separate buildings, or cover all the air vents and door with plastic, spray disinfectant every time you go in and out etc., etc., etc. However, some of us don't have friends that want rats in their houses for two weeks or own several houses, some of us don't even have the time to blockade half the house for the rat's protection. I didn't, however I did take some precautions. I washed my hands very well before and after handling each one and kept a clean  t-shirt in both rooms so that my clothes never touched one rat and then the other. It was the best I could do.

Dave part 2

Dave, who was super sweet at the breeders, became very shy once home. I don't know if it was poor socialization at the breeders, or that he was taken away from his brother, or what, but  he was terrified of my hand and writhed his tail when I reached in the cage. He wouldn't take any food, even yummy treats from me. I tried several different treats until I thought to try water. Up in his space pod Dave looked scared and then slowly drank the water off my fingers. After he finally decided I must not be trying to poison him,  he started taking treats! A small success for Dave.

Dave part 1

The blaze boy was almost mine before I ever went to meet him.  I was sent a picture of him and his brother, both the most relaxed rats that the local rattery had. At first I was leaning toward the beige-colored rex (that was the blaze's brother), but that goofy lopsided face started growing on me the more I looked at the picture.

I tried to convince myself to stay neutral and meet them first, but it was hard, especially when I thought, "goodness he looks a bit like
Dave Stutler, from the Sorcerers Apprentice...."  then he even had a name. Oh dear.

(Jay Baruchel, who plays Dave)

I kept thinking about Dave (the rat)  up until the point when I was staring at a litter of adorable four and a half week old rats at the breeder. She wanted me to see them before looking at the older ratties. They were in a 30 or 40 gallon tank, propped on a stand in the breeder's garage. Very, very cute, but I wanted to see Dave.

The breeder led me over to the rodent rack that was Dave's home, the garage was dark and cages were everywhere. It had the smell of a small town pet store. The breeder handed Dave over. I held him close and he sat patiently in my hands, not trying to escape or struggle like the others. I could tell he was nervous and I had a distinct feeling he might not like me all that much right then- but he was too polite to show it. He had a quiet feel about him and was very still. I fell for him right then. Attempting to still make a clear and intelligible decision on whether it wouldn't be better to get a younger rat, I put him down and went to look at the babies again.

It took some time, and the breeder started showing off all her rats to me, including Dave's father, a gray and white rex who was quite pretty. I take a long time to make decisions, even when I've already made the decision but don't want to admit it.

My carrier was retrieved from the car and Dave was put inside. He was nervous yet again, looking very surprised at being put in the strange contraption.

Dave was driven in a strange car, taken into a strange house, and finally released into a small blue bottomed cage with soft bedding and exciting toys. Dave was home.

Dave in Carrier